Apologies for absence were received from Councillor P Wexham (substitute Cllr C Mulroney).

The following interests were declared at the meeting:-

(a)  Councillors Holland and Moring (Executive Councillors) - interest in the called in / referred items; attended pursuant to the dispensation agreed at Council on 19th July 2012, under S.33 of the Localism Act 2011;

(b)  Councillor McGlone – agenda item relating to Risk Based Verification Framework – non-pecuniary – Board member South Essex Homes;

(c)  Councillor Holland - agenda item relating to in depth scrutiny report update – non-pecuniary – son is a Police Sgt. (but had left meeting by this point).

Councillor Holland, the Executive Councillor for Culture, Tourism and the Economy responded to two written questions from Mr Webb.

Resolved:-

That the Minutes of the meeting held on Thursday, 13^th July 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and signed.

Referred direct to Scrutiny and called-in by Councillors Terry and Woodley.

Members are asked to bring with them the most recent MPR for period ending July 2017. Comments / questions should be made at the appropriate Scrutiny Committee relevant to the subject matter.

The Committee considered Minute 308 of Cabinet held on 19^th September 2017 which had been referred direct by Cabinet and also called in to Scrutiny, together with the Monthly Performance Report covering the period to end July 2017, which had been circulated recently.

Resolved:-

That the report be noted.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.

Executive Councillor:- As appropriate to the item.

Minute 309 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 6 refers)

Called in by Councillors Gilbert and Jones

The Committee considered Minute 309 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 19^th September 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny together with a report of the Chief Executive which proposed the adoption of a policy for risk based verification within the benefits service.

Resolved:

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“That the implementation of the Risk Based Verification Policy attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.”

Note: This is an Executive function

Executive Councillor: Moring

Minute 311 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 8 refers)

Called in by Councillors Gilbert and Jones

The Committee considered Minute 311 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 19^th September 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny together with a report of the Chief Executive which informed Members of the current position on the outstanding debt to the Council as at 31^st July 2017.

In response to questions on the report, the Executive Councillor agreed to:

(a)       ask the Place Department how many PCN’s were issued to vehicles with foreign number plates (see section 4.6 or report);

(b)       provide details of figures for previous year in respect of outstanding Council Tax debt pre 1^st April 2017 (see Appendix A).

Resolved:

That the following decisions of Cabinet be noted:-

“1. That the current outstanding debt position as at 31^st July 2017 and the position of debts written off to 31^st July 2017 as set out in Appendices A and B of the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the write offs as detailed in Appendix B, be approved.”

Note: This is an Executive function

Executive Councillor: Moring

Minute 312 (Cabinet Book 1 – Agenda Item 9 refers)

Called in by Councillors Gilbert and Jones

The Committee considered Minute 312 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 19^th September 2017, which had been called in to Scrutiny together with a report of the Chief Executive proposing the appropriation of land at Priory School and Burr Hill Chase from education use for planning purposes to enable the wider redevelopment of the land following the relocation of the school.

Resolved:

That the following decision of Cabinet be noted:-

“School and Burr Hill Chase be appropriated from education use for planning purposes immediately following the vacation of the site to enable its redevelopment following relocation of the school in accordance with the consent of the Secretary of State for Education.”

Note: This is an Executive function

Executive Councillor: Moring

(i)        Essex Fire Authority – information from Cllr Woodley; Cllr Holland (attached)

(ii)       Southend University Hospital

(iii)      Essex Police & Crime Panel – information from Cllr Holland (attached)

(iv)      Kent & Essex Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority

Further to Minute 719 of the meeting held on 25^th January 2017, the Committee considered the following reports:-

(a)  Essex Fire Authority – Report from Councillor Woodley and Report from EFA to Constituent Authorities presented by Councillor Holland;

(b)  Southend University Hospital – Report from Councillor Davidson; and

(c)  Essex Police & Crime Panel – Report from Councillor Holland.

Resolved:

That the Summary Reports be noted.

The Committee received an oral update on the progress that had been made I respect of the agreed in depth scrutiny project for 2017/18 – ‘Additional enforcement resources for Southend’. A site visit has been arranged to visit the Joint Enforcement Team at Guildford Borough Council on Friday 20^th October to see how they tackle the issues and Councillor Ayling and Councillor Davidson have confirmed they can attend.

Resolved:-

To note that Councillors Ayling and Davidson will be attending the site visit to Guildford Borough Council on 20^th October 2017 and the progress be noted.

Note:- This is a Scrutiny Function.